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Manitowoc teens die in car crash: Family and friends attended a vigil Wednesday night for two Manitowoc teens who died in a car crash.

Items have been placed at a roadside memorial along Manitowoc County LS in the town of Manitowoc, where a car accident Wednesday claimed the lives of two Manitowoc teens. The memorial is in memory of Zachary Zahn and
Chelsie Harding, both 16, and sophomores at Lincoln High
School. / Sue Pischke/HTR

Zachary S. Gauthier

Zachary D. Zahn

Chelsie M. Harding

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MANITOWOC — Bail for Zachary S. Gauthier of Whitelaw was set at $10,000 cash in Manitowoc County Circuit Court on Friday afternoon.

Gauthier, 18, drove the car during the accident in which two Lincoln High School sophomores were killed early Wednesday morning. He appeared at the bail hearing via teleconference wearing prison orange and a bandage on his nose. Zachary D. Zahn and Chelsie S. Harding, both 16, died in the crash.

Gauthier was charged with two felony counts relating to the fatal accident, including operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and felony bail jumping. More charges are expected.

New charges also included three felony counts of bail jumping and two felony counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, relating to a car accident on March 18.

“It appears that there has been a deliberate disregard for the safety of others and himself. In order to assure community safety and his availability to address these charges, cash bail is appropriate,” said Manitowoc County Court Commissioner Patricia Koppa.

Conditions of bail included no operating a motor vehicle, absolute sobriety and no contact with the 16-year-old victim in the March 18 accident. Gauthier’s initial appearance is scheduled for 2:30 pm. Monday. He is being held in Manitowoc County Jail, jail records indicate.

According to the criminal complaint:

When officers arrived on the scene of the fatal accident, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Gauthier was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car with blood all over his face. He crawled out of the driver’s side window.

They found that the red 2000 Pontiac Grand Am involved in the accident was registered to Robert and Kristy Zahn of Manitowoc, parents of Zachary Zahn, who died in the crash.

The Zahns informed authorities that they did not give anyone permission to operate their vehicle on Tuesday evening. Robert Zahn said he did not know the vehicle was removed from their driveway until officers came to their home and informed them of the accident early Wednesday morning.

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Alcohol involved in March 18 accident

The 16-year-old victim of the March 18 accident told police that Gauthier and Zahn were in the car that night, according to the criminal complaint.

She said Gauthier drank about six shots of blue UV-brand vodka and could not walk a straight line and was mumbling. She said he drove his black-and-white Pontiac Bonneville while she was in the front passenger seat and Zahn was in the rear passenger seat. No one wore seatbelts, according to the complaint.

Gauthier was driving on a gravel road that was blocked off, near the Southfield Townhouses, at a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour, when the car struck a barricade in the road. She said she struck her head on the dashboard and lost consciousness. When she awoke, she said she was lying on the sidewalk and believed she had been unconscious for about two hours.

Police investigated the scene in the 2600 block of South 21st Street and noticed an upright, metal curbside sewer that had been struck and was pushed completely clear of the sewer, leaving the sewer uncovered. Red and black paint transfer on the sewer appeared to match Gauthier’s car.

Gauthier’s car sustained damage consistent with the witness account of the accident, said the complaint.

Earlier story: No details yet available on teens' accident, Services are set for 16-year-olds who died

MANITOWOC — The Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department will release additional information on Wednesday's fatal one-car accident once the investigation is completed — and that could take days or possibly weeks, said Inspector Gregg Schetter.

The one-car accident on Manitowoc County LS, just north of Silver Creek Road in the town of Manitowoc, claimed the lives of Lincoln High School sophomores Zachary D. Zahn and Chelsie M. Harding, both 16. Injured was Whitelaw resident Zachary S. Gauthier, 18, the driver of the vehicle, which went out of control and hit a tree.

Information about Gauthier's condition is not being released because of the ongoing police investigation, said Lisa Malak, spokeswoman for St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

A reconstruction of the accident is being done by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Schetter said.

Information regarding the car speed, toxicology results and events leading up to the accident will be available once the investigation and reconstruction are finished, he said.

The accident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. just south of the city limits. Manitowoc County does not have a curfew for minors, Schetter said.

The city of Manitowoc has a curfew of 11 p.m. on school nights, but it applies only to those 15 and younger, said Sgt. Bruce Jacobs of the Manitowoc Police Department.

A memorial service for Harding will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Faith Church, 2201 S. 42nd St., Manitowoc. Relatives and friends may call from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

A memorial service for Zahn is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc. Relatives and friends may call from 3 p.m. until the time of the service.